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Archiver > MAESSEX > 2005-02 > 1107314945


From: "NANCY HUNT" <>
Subject: Re: [MAESSEX] Re: Townsend, MA and New Hampshire Records
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2005 22:31:39 -0500
References: <005001c508c0$891c8d60$18a65b40@c77n75jj5t>


Carol,
It is possible that birth records could be at the Concord VR. If you give me
the names you are looking, I will look them up. I only do record look-ups at
the Concord VR.
Nancy Hunt, Exeter, NH
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carol R" <>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 7:45 PM
Subject: [MAESSEX] Re: Townsend, MA and New Hampshire Records


>I have taken some notes from the book, the History of Townsend, MA (see
>below). My question regarding this history is where does one look for these
>birth and marriage records, MA or NH? Where do you find out which state is
>holding these records after the boundary line changes.?
>
> Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Town History to 1878
>
> Pages 118 -
>
> 1741 Boundary changes between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, included
> Brookline, Mason, New Ipswich were taken from Townsend, MA.
>
> New Hampshire received a fresh impetus in civilization by acquiring from
> Massachusetts twenty-eight new townships besides large tracts of vacant
> lands intermixed. When this line was determined the politicians of
> Massachusetts were exceedingly angry and dissatisfied. Dunstable by this
> new line was severed in two parts about equal, suffering much by having
> its little village sundered and left in two provinces.
>
>
>
> Pages 38-77
>
> The foundation of our municipal rights, and all the titles to the real
> estate in Townsend (except Hathorn 's farm) rest on the following grant
> from the General Court in 1719 , which was forty-three years after
> Danforth made the survey and plan for the mile square on Nissequassick
> hill . On account of the importance of this document, it is here presented
> to the reader, to show some of the views of the puritans in regard to
> their worldly wisdom and their judgment concerning education and
> religion:-- "Anno Regni Regis Georgii Magn' Britanni', &c. Sexto. "At a
> great and General Court or Assembly for his Majesty's Province of the
> Massachusetts Bay in New England , begun and held in Boston , upon
> Wednesday, the twenty-seventh of May, 1719 , and continued by Prorogation
> to Wednesday, the fourth of November, 1719 , and then met; being their
> second session. "Monday, December 7, 1719 . "In the house of
> Representatives, the vote for granting two new towns was brought down from
> the bo!
> ard, with Amendments, which were read and agreed to--And the said vote is
> as follows, viz:-- "Voted that two new Towns, each containing a Quantity
> of land not exceeding six miles square, be laid out in as regular Forms,
> as the Land will allow; to be settled in a defensible manner, on the
> Westerly side of Groton West line, and that William Taylor , Samuel
> Thaxter , Francis Fulham , Esqrs., Capt. John Shipley , and Mr. Benjamin
> Whittamore , be a Commitee fully impowered to allot and grant out the land
> contained in each of the said towns, (a lot not to exceed Two hundred and
> fifty acres) to such persons, and only such as will effectually settle the
> same within the space of three years next ensuing the laying out and
> granting such lots by the Committee, who are instructed and directed to
> admit eighty families or persons in each Town at least, who shall pay to
> the said Committee for the use of the Province, the sum of Five Pounds for
> each allotment, which shall be granted and al!
> lotted as aforesaid; and that each person to whom such lot or lots sha
> ll be granted or laid out, shall be obliged to build a good Dwelling House
> thereon and inhabit it; and also to break up and fence in three acres of
> land at the least within the Term of three years; and that there be laid
> out and reserved for the first settled Minister, a good convenient Lot;
> also, a Lot for the School, and a ministerial lot, and a lot for Harvard
> College, of two hundred and fifty acres each, and that the Settlers be
> obliged to build a good, convenient House for the Worship of God in each
> of the said Towns, within the term of four years; and to pay the charge of
> necessary surveys, and the Committee for their service in and about the
> premises; and that the Committee give public notice of the time and place
> when and where they will meet to grant allotments. Consented to-- Saml.
> Shute."
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Pages 78-117
>
> The portion of "country land" taken to form these two towns was known to
> the people of the province as Turkey Hills ; referring particularly to the
> hills situated in the south, southwest and west part of these townships.
> The committee appointed to allot and grant these two townships. designated
> them as North Town and South Town . From 1719 to 1732 all references to
> the territory which is now known as Townsend designate it as "the North
> Town ;" Lunenburg of course being the South Town .
>
>

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